Abstract

The Irish Government has decided to hold a second referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon. A Bertelsmann Stiftung survey demonstrates that 92 per cent of the Irish reject the idea of their country leaving the European Union. This percentage is higher than in Germany (86 per cent) or Poland (83 per cent). 59 per cent of Ireland’s British neighbours want to remain in the EU, and only 32 per cent are in favour of leaving. In the December edition of the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s spotlight europe Dominik Hierlemann analyses the results of the survey from seven EU member states. A movement away from the EU is nowhere to be seen. However, as Hierlemann points out, trouble is still brewing not only in Ireland, but also in the Czech Republic, despite the pro-ratification ruling of its constitutional court.